Rustic Courtyard Wedding at The Alexandrian Hotel

Looking for the most charming red brick courtyard here in Old Town Alexandria? Well look no further than The Alexandrian Hotel whose beautiful space is perfect for outdoor ceremonies, cocktail hours and receptions. Kate and Os’ rustic courtyard wedding took place in this very space with their closest family and friends.

Extraordinary Style

Kate’s bouquet was anything but ordinary. The king protea definitely captured our attention, with an equally beautiful supporting cast of ranunculus, butterfly ranunculus, white wax flower, eucalyptus and magnolia foliage. Finishing her bridal look was a lush crown of seeded eucalyptus foliage accented with touches of wax flower.

The vision for the rustic courtyard wedding included many shades of greenery, and they embraced the all green shades throughout! The bridesmaids wore stunning emerald green dresses, and their bouquets were foliage heavy. Boutonnieres of mixed greens graced the men’s lapels, with Os sporting a small succulent.

Kate Seamands and Os Guzman's mini-mony at the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Kate and Os's mini-mony at the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia September 19, 2020.

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Kate and Os's mini-mony at the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Rustic protea and eucalyptus bouquet for courtyard wedding at The Alexandrian Hotel

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Ceremony

Their rustic courtyard wedding style was absolutely perfect for the courtyard – organic and rustic with a touch of whimsy. The ceremony set with two rustic wine barrels, each holding a large, organic design of hydrangea, stock, roses and spray roses in shades of white and ivory with wisps of Queen Anne’s lace and finished with richly textured lemon leaf and eucalyptus foliages.

Rustic courtyard wedding at the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Kate Seamands and Os Guzman's mini-mony at the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia September 19, 2020.

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Reception

For the reception, a combination of elegant eucalyptus garlands and terrariums created an elegant ambiance for the rustic courtyard wedding. The sweetheart table featured a garland along the front rim further accented with white O’Hara garden roses, ranunculus, and wax flower. Keeping with our rustic theme, the cake was ringed with a lush treatment of eucalyptus along the base.

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Rustic courtyard wedding at The Alexandrian Hotel

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Rustic courtyard wedding at The Alexandrian Hotel with geometric terrarium and eucalyptus garland

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Cake ringed with eucalyptus for rustic courtyard wedding at The Alexandrian Hotel, Alexandria, VA

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Kate and Os were such a pleasure to work with and we wish them the best in their first year of marriage!

Photo by Lindsay King Photography

Venue: The Alexandrian Hotel

Photography: Lindsay King

Florist: Petal’s Edge Floral Design

Music: Chris Styles, DJ Xtreme Sound

Hair & Make Up: Make up by Ana B

Cake: Fluffy Thoughts

Coordinator: Hannah Warren

Let’s talk about the “just a few extra blooms” request. Spoiler: there’s no such thing as extra in the world of flowers. Every stem you see, from delicate sweet peas and perfect ranunculus to lush roses, was bought with intention because flowers are literally our business. 🌸

The blooms for a single flat lay? Retail price any where from $20 to $75 and up. And. Up. Why the mark up? Because selling flowers is how we make our living. It pays the team, the rent, the cooler, transportation costs, and more. (It’s not just petals and poetry over here). Multiply that by 50 - 70 weddings a season and you’re looking at over $3k in gift blooms. That doesn’t include the myriad of other free blooms we get asked for: cake flowers, passing tray flowers, sample arrangements and more. That’s not generosity. That’s payroll.

Here’s how we handle it: We offer all our couples the option to include flat lay florals. If yes, we build it into the proposal so everyone wins. The couple gets their dreamy detail shots, the photographer gets beautiful product to work with, and we stay in business. Fairness (and beauty) for all.

No shade to photographers and other wedding vendors here. But boundaries are healthy. Everyone’s work deserves compensation. Be kind. Ask questions. Respect the craft. Love the results.

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Let’s talk about the “just a few extra blooms” request. Spoiler: there’s no such thing as extra in the world of flowers. Every stem you see, from delicate sweet peas and perfect ranunculus to lush roses, was bought with intention because flowers are literally our business. 🌸

The blooms for a single flat lay? Retail price any where from $20 to $75 and up. And. Up. Why the mark up? Because selling flowers is how we make our living. It pays the team, the rent, the cooler, transportation costs, and more. (It’s not just petals and poetry over here). Multiply that by 50 - 70 weddings a season and you’re looking at over $3k in gift blooms. That doesn’t include the myriad of other free blooms we get asked for: cake flowers, passing tray flowers, sample arrangements and more. That’s not generosity. That’s payroll.

Here’s how we handle it: We offer all our couples the option to include flat lay florals. If yes, we build it into the proposal so everyone wins. The couple gets their dreamy detail shots, the photographer gets beautiful product to work with, and we stay in business. Fairness (and beauty) for all.

No shade to photographers and other wedding vendors here. But boundaries are healthy. Everyone’s work deserves compensation. Be kind. Ask questions. Respect the craft. Love the results.

Jazz-age elegance meets Shakespearean drama. For the 2025 Folger Shakespeare Library`s Annual Gala, we channeled the Gatsby vibes and the Harlem Renaissance through gilded palms, white ostrich feathers, and rhythmic textures built for an evening of music and movement. This year’s celebration honored Shakespeare’s lasting place in American culture and welcomed new director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper with a floral story full of swing and shimmer.⁣
⁣
Special thanks to Sarah Cissna of The Side Lobby for her inspired creative leadership. The night was a perfect blend of theater, history, and bold design. Events like this remind us that flowers don’t just decorate a room, they carry its soul.⁣
⁣
📍@folgerlibrary⁣
🍽 @designcuisine⁣
📷 @elmanstudio⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
📋 @thesidelobby

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Jazz-age elegance meets Shakespearean drama. For the 2025 Folger Shakespeare Library's Annual Gala, we channeled the Gatsby vibes and the Harlem Renaissance through gilded palms, white ostrich feathers, and rhythmic textures built for an evening of music and movement. This year’s celebration honored Shakespeare’s lasting place in American culture and welcomed new director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper with a floral story full of swing and shimmer.⁣
⁣
Special thanks to Sarah Cissna of The Side Lobby for her inspired creative leadership. The night was a perfect blend of theater, history, and bold design. Events like this remind us that flowers don’t just decorate a room, they carry its soul.⁣
⁣
📍@folgerlibrary⁣
🍽 @designcuisine⁣
📷 @elmanstudio⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
📋 @thesidelobby

Some venues ask for flowers. Others demand a dialogue. At the Corcoran Gallery of Art (RIP), the room itself was a masterpiece. Marble columns, grand lines, and just enough shadow for drama. So we kept the florals monochromatic and structural: elegant white blooms along long tables, punctuated by candlelight. Soft folds of draped fabric enhanced the intimacy of an otherwise grand space. The result wasn’t just decoration. It was atmosphere. A moment where floral design became part of the architecture, and the room exhaled in light.⁣
⁣
📍Corcoran Gallery of Art⁣
🍽 @welldunncatering⁣
📷 @timmesterphotography⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 18087969751905058

Some venues ask for flowers. Others demand a dialogue. At the Corcoran Gallery of Art (RIP), the room itself was a masterpiece. Marble columns, grand lines, and just enough shadow for drama. So we kept the florals monochromatic and structural: elegant white blooms along long tables, punctuated by candlelight. Soft folds of draped fabric enhanced the intimacy of an otherwise grand space. The result wasn’t just decoration. It was atmosphere. A moment where floral design became part of the architecture, and the room exhaled in light.⁣
⁣
📍Corcoran Gallery of Art⁣
🍽 @welldunncatering⁣
📷 @timmesterphotography⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

Like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, summer slipped quietly into memory. But not before giving us this moment. Alli & Graham’s floral arch spun from soft blues, creamy whites, and petal layers light enough to feel enchanted. Designed for their waterside ceremony at Celebrations at the Bay, this arch was pure storybook romance. No glass slippers required, just the kind of magic flowers can still conjure long after the clock strikes fall. Here’s to the gentler goodbyes, and to floral fairytales that don’t wilt at the word ‘season.’

📍@celebrationsatthebay
🍽 @catering_by_uptown
📷 @katefineart
💐 @petalsedgedc
💄@mimibtran
📋 @margobrightoccasions

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17997773825692409

Like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, summer slipped quietly into memory. But not before giving us this moment. Alli & Graham’s floral arch spun from soft blues, creamy whites, and petal layers light enough to feel enchanted. Designed for their waterside ceremony at Celebrations at the Bay, this arch was pure storybook romance. No glass slippers required, just the kind of magic flowers can still conjure long after the clock strikes fall. Here’s to the gentler goodbyes, and to floral fairytales that don’t wilt at the word ‘season.’

📍@celebrationsatthebay
🍽 @catering_by_uptown
📷 @katefineart
💐 @petalsedgedc
💄@mimibtran
📋 @margobrightoccasions

As baseball season wraps, we’re celebrating a win of our own: bringing Petal’s Edge floral magic to Nationals Park for a special event. While most days take us to historic houses and grand ballrooms, we love the chance to design somewhere unexpected. Because flowers don’t just belong in gardens. They shine in stadiums too!

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17865608988487963

As baseball season wraps, we’re celebrating a win of our own: bringing Petal’s Edge floral magic to Nationals Park for a special event. While most days take us to historic houses and grand ballrooms, we love the chance to design somewhere unexpected. Because flowers don’t just belong in gardens. They shine in stadiums too!

When the bride wears black, everything else falls into place. At Lauren & Alan’s Hotel Monaco wedding, the candlelight flickered against layers of greenery, lanterns, and shadow. The palette whispered more than it spoke. White flowers wouldn’t have belonged here; this was a story told in texture, depth, and restraint.

There’s power in contrast: light against dark, softness against structure, the unexpected choice that somehow feels inevitable once you see it. The design was less about decoration and more about atmosphere. Mysterious, elegant, and entirely unforgettable.

📍 @monacodc
📷 @carlelixirstudio
💐 @petalsedgedc

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